Curragh army personnel assist in major terror threat prevention assignment in Dublin yesterday

11:15 Thursday 7th of December 2017

Irish Defence Force members from the Curragh joined a number of other units from around Ireland yesterday in an operation that was carried out to test the response capabilities of the army in Ireland.

Troops were reportedly informed of the exercise at 6am yesterday morning before being deployed to Pearse Station in Dublin where they responded to a mock incident that had seen eight people killed and 20 injured in a terror attack at the train station.

There were over 500 defence personnel involved in the assignment that focused on a number of key locations around Dublin, including Dublin Port and Airport. The elite Army Ranger Wing, the Naval Service and Air Corps and An Garda Síochána were also involved.

The exercise centred on how the Defence Forces would respond to a possible request from An Garda Síochána following a ‘major on-island terrorist incident’. In undertaking this exercise, the Defence Forces practiced various operational and tactical procedures.

Speaking about the exercise the Minister with Responsibility for Defence Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D. stated:

“It is vital to ensure that the men and women of the Defence Forces are prepared to support An Garda Síochana in the event of a major terrorist incident. This exercise allows the Defence Forces to build on their capabilities and preparedness and develop their procedures with An Garda Síochána.”

The Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett added:

“The primary purpose of today was to exercise our plans and our ability to provide the military capability to support An Garda Síochána in the event of a major terrorist incident. The exercise was a success, we have identified lessons from it and we will continue to build on them in future exercises.”

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